2020 GS-15 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 29.77% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $109,366 on the base table to $141,924 in SAN DIEGO.
2020 GS-15 Pay in SAN DIEGO
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $141,924 | $5,458.62 | $68.00 | +$32,558 |
| Step 2 | $146,656 | $5,640.62 | $70.27 | +$33,644 |
| Step 3 | $151,387 | $5,822.58 | $72.54 | +$34,729 |
| Step 4 | $156,119 | $6,004.58 | $74.81 | +$35,815 |
| Step 5 | $160,850 | $6,186.54 | $77.07 | +$36,900 |
| Step 6 | $165,581 | $6,368.50 | $79.34 | +$37,985 |
| Step 7 | $170,313 | $6,550.50 | $81.61 | +$39,071 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
2020 GS-15 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 29.77% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $141,924 | $5,458.62 | $68.00 | +$32,558 |
| Step 2 | $146,656 | $5,640.62 | $70.27 | +$33,644 |
| Step 3 | $151,387 | $5,822.58 | $72.54 | +$34,729 |
| Step 4 | $156,119 | $6,004.58 | $74.81 | +$35,815 |
| Step 5 | $160,850 | $6,186.54 | $77.07 | +$36,900 |
| Step 6 | $165,581 | $6,368.50 | $79.34 | +$37,985 |
| Step 7 | $170,313 | $6,550.50 | $81.61 | +$39,071 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SAN DIEGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in SAN DIEGO: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2020, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in SAN DIEGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $5,459 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,569. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2020 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-15 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-15 in SAN DIEGO questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $141,924 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,800. This is 29.77% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in SAN DIEGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2020, it is 29.77%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $32,558 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in SAN DIEGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $5,459 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.